Mike Baculima, 17, right, reacts to the results after spinning "the wheel of reality" as Sikorsky employee Patricia Schulte of Milford, Conn. watches during a financial seminar Tuesday Tuesday at Abbott Technical School. Volunteers from Sikorsky Credit Union spend the morning teaching kids at Abbott Techl all about the ins and outs of personal finance, Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

Mike Baculima, 17, right, reacts to the results after spinning "the wheel of reality" as Sikorsky employee Patricia Schulte of Milford, Conn. watches during a financial seminar Tuesday Tuesday at Abbott

From left, Keegan Mulligan, Holly Pascoe, Nick Kopcik and Emily Tavares, standing, all 18, chat together Tuesday morning as volunteers from Sikorsky Credit Union teach kids at Abbott Technical School, in Danbury, Conn., all about the ins and outs of personal finance, Tuesday, May 13, 2014. Right is Michael Shirling, of Oxford, with Sikorsky. less

D'Angelo Guerrero, left, and Eric Pesantez, both 17, go over a food budget for one month. Volunteers from Sikorsky Credit Union spend Tuesday morning teaching kids at Abbott Technical School all about the ins and outs of personal finance, Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

D'Angelo Guerrero, left, and Eric Pesantez, both 17, go over a food budget for one month. Volunteers from Sikorsky Credit Union spend Tuesday morning teaching kids at Abbott Technical School all about the ins ... more

D'Angelo Guerrero, left, works with a volunteer from the Sikorsky Credit Union who spent Tuesday morning teaching kids at Abbott Technical School all about the ins and outs of personal finance, Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

D'Angelo Guerrero, left, works with a volunteer from the Sikorsky Credit Union who spent Tuesday morning teaching kids at Abbott Technical School all about the ins and outs of personal finance, Tuesday, May 13, ... more

As part of the exercise, students had to research what their monthly earnings will be in their given career, then try to pay for all of life's necessities with the money. Students quickly learned just how difficult it can be stretch a dollar.

"You really have to work with what you have," Haber said. "I've never been really good at saving money, but I think this will help me. It's really opened up my eyes."

Volunteers with Sikorsky have held the program throughout the region in recent weeks including high schools in Stratford, Seymour and Oxford.

Patricia Schultz, who has been coordinating the reality fairs for Sikorsky, said they've been offering the program for the past six years as a way for students to learn financial literacy skills and budgeting for a household.

"At the end of the day, the students learn that they can't afford everything they want," said Paula Dias, the manager of Sikorsky's Danbury branch. "The students have to learn to live within their means. It's great when you see students working together during the exercise, like trying to find a roommate to help reduce their rental costs."

The credit union offers branches in several high schools including Seymour and Stratford where students can intern and learn more about a career in banking. Some interns have been hired in the past as full-time employees upon their graduation.

Pete Szklarz, the career-development teacher with Abbott Tech, said the program on Tuesday served as a great culmination of the work students have been doing in class during the school year. Szklarz said he's helped students purchase used cars, create budgets and write resumes and cover letters.

"I wish we had more of this when I was their age," he said. "I don't think I was at all prepared when I graduated from high school. These students will have a better idea of what they'll face when they get out into the real world. It's a great program."

Many students reported having a renewed sense of what they'll need when they graduate as a result of the fair.

After trying to make ends meet on $1,200 a month from a retail job, Ashley Bahr, 17, of New Milford said she might have to rethink her career choices.

"It's just not enough money to pay for everything I'll need," she said. "I might have to look for a second job. I've also considered getting a degree after school to become a nurse's aide. I think I'm going to spend some more time looking at that as an option."